Counter tube electrode structure



April 5, 1966 c. F. EYER ETAL COUNTER TUBE ELECTRODE STRUCTURE FiledJune 2, 1961 Z 6 6 0 W 1- Q 4 M ,H a w H I'M m M W I n q //H/ W n LUM/"MM w w m ff I 5 41m United States Patent 3,244,926 COUNTER TUBEELECTRODE STRUCTURE Charles F. Eyer, Williamspo'rt, and Joseph W. Ritz,Montoursville, Pa., assignors to Sylvania Electric Products 'Inc., acorporation of Delaware Filed June 2, 1961, Ser. No. 114,340 Claims.(Cl. 313-245) This invention relates to counter tubes employing acentral anode disc surrounded by a number of spaced rods successivelyacting as gas discharge transfer cathodes during tube operation.

In tubes of this nature, the internal cathode rods are vertically spacedwith respect to one another and with the centrally positioned anode bymeans of several horizontally and individually spaced disc-typeinsulators. In the prior art, the respective electrode rods were snuglythreaded through appropriate apertures in these several insulatingspacers for mounting purposes. Since the spacers were usuallyvfabricated from mica orsome similar fragile material, the tediousnessof this electrode rod mounting operation made it expensive and timeconsuming.

In tube structures utilizing the foregoing construction, the electroderods and spacers were first formed as a sub- ,assembly. This structurewas then joined to a stem button or wafer containing the requiredlead-in wires by welding the individual electrode rods to appropriatestem leads. The large number of welding operations and the close spacingof the Welds were contributory causes for many tu'be failures because ofimproper welds or short circuits between the conductive elements withinthe tube.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a simplifiedgas discharge tube containing the essential functioning elementsconstructed and mounted in such a manner so as to be conducive to theproduction of a superior quality tube by employment of simplifiedinexpensive manufacturing techniques.

It is also an object of this invention -to provide a counter tube withan electrode spacersupported above the stem button at substantially oneelevation of the cathode rods.

Another object of the invention is to provide :a counter 'tube withmulti-purpose integral cathode and lead-in electrodes.

A further object of ,the invention is to provide improved meansforsupporting and spacing the cathode rods relative to one another.

The foregoing objectives are achieved in one aspectof the invention byutilizing integral electrodeleads in the tube for several functions.These leads, which extend exteriorly of the tube, serve as base pins orexternal connectors. Within the tube, the leads extend upwardly and areuniformly bent to seat an insulator spacer formed to equidistantlylocate the cathode with reference to a common central anode disc. Sincethe electrodelead-ins are integral with the cathode leads, there are nowelds or jointures within the tube. Further simplificationiis broughtabout by seating the insulator spacer directly on the electrode bends. Agaseous discharge tube formed in this manner achieves distinctadvantages over the prior art by alleviating innumerable welds and otherinternal structural supports.

These and other objects will become apparent after considering thefollowing specification when taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a counter tube mountillustrating one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an assembled elevational view of a counting tube utilizing themount structure of FIG. 1, with the envelope in section; and

3,244,926 Patented Apr. 5, 1966 FIG. 3 is a partially sectioned view ofan alternate electrode assembly.

A gas discharge or counter tube of the character .disclosed herein canbe adequately described as a four output cathode version comprising acentral anode .20 surrounded by four output cathode rods and associatedguides, collectively designated as 24.

These electrode rods 24 are integral in construction and extend throughand-inward of stem button 12 where they are uniformly bent to form acircular seat 26. Upon this seat are placed a mica shield 16 and aninsulating spacer 18. Anode lead 14 is also integral and is inwardlybent to extend axially and perpendicularly through the mount structureto support anode disc 20 which is in spaced relationship with cathodeand guide rods 24.

During operation, a potential difierence is developed between the anodeand cathodes to cause ionization of the gas in the tube so that adischarge or arc will occur between the anode and a given cathode.Between each output cathode and a succeeding output cathode, two guiderods are placed to receive sequential voltage pulses capable of shiftingthe are from the conducting cathode to the next adjacent first guiderod,..then to the associated second guide rod and on to the next outputcathode. In order to properly attain this transfer, withsimplestmagnitudes of voltages, the guide rods and cathodes should besubstantially equally spaced from each other, and all spaced a likedistance from the anode.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, .a circular stem disc or button '12 istraversed by a number ofrods 24 including an anode conductor 14. Theserods and anode conductor are hermetically sealed in the button 12 whichmay be of any insulating material such as glass, .alumina ceramic, orsteatite. As here shown, the circle of rods or pins 24, including theanode conductor '14, is near the perimeter of the stem disc 12, butinsomeinstances, it is desired to have the anode conductor pass axiallythrough the button. If desired, each ofthe lead-in rods 24 may be of thetype comprising these seetions of metal with 2. treated centralcopper-clad section of reduced diameter to afford a good hermetic andnon-cracking seal with apertures 15 in .stem button 12. Anode lead 14 isof similar construction except fthe inner section is of heavier gauge.The exterior portion of this lead may also be of heavier gaugeitoafforda larger pin'for socket orientation. Each of the rods forming theelectrodes .24 in thettube and the anode lead-in ,14.pass through .thestem' button-12, preferably perpendicularly thereto, the lowerendsetxend- .ingexteriorly of the tube :.to .formithe pins for insertioninto a tube socket. The upper portionsextend perpendicularly-into theinterior of the=tube mountand, at a point above the stern button 12,aresangularly bent radially toward the :axis of thetube and .thensharply upwardly to form a diametrically :smaller circlesofbends orseats 26. .All of these seats are substantially at:a common horizontallevel-and serve ,to'seat micadisc 16. .Anodelead 14-is deformed in asomewhatsimilar mannen'butis'bent'radially and angularly to thecenterline ofthe stemi button and then-upwardly. 'The portion ofconductor 14 between stem button'12-and the axial bend 'is-.coated.-.with insulating material 13, which adds rigidity and seating.The mica shield 16, of a diameter suflicient to make contact with anenvelope 10, is snugly threaded by appropriate apertures 23 over theupper ends of the rods and seated on bends 26, anode conductor 14extending axially theretbru. This shield 16 prevents sublimationproducts in the upper portion of the tube from settling in the lowerportion of the tube and particularly prevents the formaion ofsublimation deposits on the stem button 12 and adjacent portions of therods. It also acts as a positioner of the mount structure whenenveloped. On top of the mica shield 16 is fitted an insulating spacer18 of steatite or alumina or the like, of smaller diameter than shield16, having cavities or recesses'31 registering with similarly locatedapertures 28 in the shield. Recesses 31, shown in FIG. 3, are used forlocalized control of sublimation about each of the electrode rods v24.The cavities or cup-like depressions form insulating barriers in thecathode anode sublimation path which develops during tube usage. If sodesired, shield 16 may be eliminated and insulating spacer 18 made oflarger diameter sufficient to additionally assume the functions ofshield 16 or other sublimation reducing means may be employed.

The vertical rods 24 in circular array protrude upwardly through spacer1S and are substantially parallel and equally spaced to form thecathodes and control rods of the counter tube. The anode conductor 14extends vertically and axially through a registering aperture in theinsulating spacer 18 to a height slightly in excess of the cathodes andcontrol rods. A sleeve of insulating material 30, threaded onto anodeconductor 14, positions anode disc 20 for securement on anode lead 134at a location adjacent to and equally spaced from the upper ends of therods 24. The above arrangement maintains insulating spacer 18 and micashield 16 on rod seats 26. An alternate structure for maintaining thespacer and shield on seats 26 involves swaging one or more of the rodsat the top surface of the spacer, as indicated by the deformation orswage 29 in FIG. 3, to enlarge the rod at this point thereby forcingsome of the metal of rod 24 into cavity 31 and by this means prevent thespacer and shield from shifting upwardly along rods 24.

. Theassembled tube structure herein described is hermetically envelopedin a glass closure as shown in FIG. 2. Tubulation for evacuation and gasfilling is not shown but may be incorporated in a manner familiar to theart.

Thus, this invention provides a counting tube structure wherein thereare no welds or other joints within the tube, and wherein only theseated spacer 18 need afford the essential insulating properties andrequisite positioning of the rods with respect to each other and to theanode. Compared with the prior art, innumerable welds or jointures areeliminated along with other structural supports, thereby promotingquality, compactness, and simplicity of structure and reduced expense ofmanufacturing.

Although several embodiments of the invention hav been shown anddescribed, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art thatvariations and'modifications may be made therein without departing fromthe scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. A gaseous discharge tube comprising an envelope including aninsulating. button having an array of rods passing therethrough, aninsulating spacer within the envelope above the but-ton and providedwith an array of perforations, an anode supported above the spacer, saidrods being located in and positioned by the perforations in the spacerand extending from the button to positions spaced from the anode, atleast some of said rods being bent intermediate the button and spacer toform'a spacer seat, said rods being integral throughout their extentwithin the tube.

2. A gaseous discharge tube comprising an'envelope including aninsulating button having a circular array of rods passing therethrough,an insulating spacer within the envelope above the buttonafid providedwith an array of perforations, an anode supported above the spacer, saidrods being located in and positioned by the perforations in the spacerand extending from the button to positions spaced from the anode, saidrods having bends therein intermediate the button and spacer to form aspacer seat, and means for holding the spacer at the bends of the rods,said rods being integral throughout their extent within the tube.

3. A gaseous discharge tube comprising an envelope including aninsulating button having a circular array of rods passing throughapertures, a circular insulating spacer above the button, a circularinsulating shield of larger diameter than the spacer positioned belowthe spacer and in contact therewith, a circular array of registeringapertures in the shield and spacer, the diameter of the circle ofapertures in the spacer and shield being smaller than that in thebutton, an anode supported above the spacer, a series of rods located inand positioned by the apertures in the spacer and extending from thebutton to positions spaced from the anode, said rods being bentintermediate the button and spacer to form a spacer seat, and a sleevepositioned between the anode disc and the spacer to maintain the spacerand underlying shield against the seats.

4. A gaseous discharge tube comprising an envelope including aninsulating button having an array of rods passing through apertures, aninsulating spacer above the button, an insulating shield positionedbelow the spacer and in contact therewith, an array of registeringapertures in the shield and spacer, an anode supported above the spacer,a series of rods located in and positioned by the apertures in thespacer and extending from the button to positions spaced from the anode,said rods being bent intermediate the button and spacer to form a spacerseat.

5. A gaseous discharge tube comprising an envelope including aninsulating button having a circular array of rods passing throughapertures, a circular insulating spacer above the button, a circularinsulating shield of larger diameter than the spacer positioned belowthe spacer and in contact therewith, a circular array of registeringapertures in the shield and spacer, the diameter of the circle ofapertures in the spacer and shield being smaller than that in thebutton, an anode supported above the spacer, a series of rods located inand positioned by the apertures in the spacer and extending from thebutton to positions spaced from the anode, said rods being bentintermediate the button and spacer to form a spacer seat, and some ofsaid rods being deformed immediately above the spacer to maintain thespacer and underlying shield against the seat.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,651,004 9/1953Acton. 2,896,118 7/1956 Williams.

GEORGE N. WESTBY, Primary Examiner.

ARTHUR GAUSS, Examinen' C. R CAMPBELL, Assistant Examiner.

1. A GASEOUS DISCHARGE TUBE COMPRISING AN ENVELOPE INCLUDING ANINSULATING BUTTOM HAVING AN ARRAY OF RODS PASSING THERETHROUGH, ANINSULATING SPACER WITHIN THE ENVELOPE ABOVE THE BUTTOM AND PROVIDED WITHAN ARRAY OF PERFORATIONS, AN ANODE SUPPORTED ABOVE THE SPACER, SAID RODSBEING LOCATED IN AND POSITIONED BY THE PERFORATIONS IN THE SPACER ANDEXTENDING FROM THE BUTTON TO POSITIONS SPACED FROM THE ANODE, AT LEASTSOME OF SAID RODS BEING BENT INTERMEDIATE THE BUTTOM AND SPACER TO FORMA SPACER SEAT, SAID RODS BEING INTEGRAL THROUGHOUT THEIR EXTENT WITHINTHE TUBE.